Operating means for automobile-door latches



Feb. 19 1924. EAEQSBE F. KLEINSWHTH OPERATING MEANS FOR AUTOMOBILE DOORLATCHES Original Filed Dec. 1921..

1N VEN TOR. 58:05am Man's/w rfi.

V A TTORNEY.

FEEDEBICK KLEINSMITH. L IITITDIANAZOLIS, INDIANA.

QEER-TING MEANS 'EGB. AUTOMOBZLE DQOR LATGHES.

Application filed December 31, 1921, Serial No 526,188. Renewed october19, 19553.

To all whom it may concern:

'ng means prnnarlly for use in connection with doors in which is placeda sliding panel, the prime feature of "the invention being in soarranging the latch operating mechanism that the panel may be formedsubstantially the same width as the door and pass between the latchoperating handle on one side of the door and the latch. A furtherfeature of the inve ticn the provision of a flexible member which is cantended from the operating handle at one side oi the path of the nanel tothe latch posinpned at the opposite side of the path. or the panel forreleasing the latch when the operating handle is actuated. And a furtherfeature of the invention is the provision of means for taking no anyslack in the flexible member, therein aintaining theflexible memberproper sion at all time Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter more fully set forth and pointed out in the accompanyingspecification.

In the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a detail elevation partly in section of an automobile doorshowing the latch operating means attached thereto,

Figure 2 is a sectional view thereof as seen on line 22, Figure 1., and

Figure 3 is a side elevation showing a slightly different form of latchbolt operating device.

Referring to the drawings, 1 indicates an automobile door which ispreferably hollow and in which is slidably mounted a frame or panel. 2.said frame having a section of glass therein and is arranged to he orlowered for providing a closed or pen car, or partially lowered forventilating purposes.

In order to permit the frame to pass between the operating handle 3 onone side of the door and the latch 4 employed for holding the door inclosed position, thereby pro *iding a maximum width for the frame orpanel, the has a drum fixed thereto to which is attached a flexiblemember 6, said flexible member extending downwardly and around a sheave7 and upwardly into engagement with alatch operating" lever 8, a secondsheave 9 being attached to the inner Wall of the door over which theupper portion of that end of the flexible member attached to the lever8, is extended. By extending the flexible iember downwardly in the door1 the frame 2 may be lowered until it is entirely seated within the doorwithout intcrlering with the operation of the latch from either side ofthe door.

The sheave 7 is pivotally mounted in a yoke 16 and said yoke is securedto the lower edge of the door in any suitable manner. The sheave 9 ismounted upon a plate 11 and the plate is attached to parts of the doorstructure by means of screws 12 and 13, the screw 12 extending'through around opening through the, plate and preteraloly near one cornerthereof, While the screw 13 extends tl'niongh an elongated curved slot14 on the opposite side of the sheave 9.

By securing the plate to the door in this manner, and placing the screw13 substan tially in line alcove the screw 12, the sheave i.) may beadjusted laterally for taking up any slack that may occur in theflexible member.

The rotating movement of the drum 5 may be limited by forming a notch 15in the edge or" the drum, with which co-operates a pin 16 carried byparts of the door structure.

In Figure 3 of the drawings the latch operating lever 8 is dispensedwith and the end of the flexible member 6 connected directto the 0nd ofthe bolt in the latch i, thesheavc 9 in this instance being moved to a.higher position on the door so as to cause an end pull on the latch boltwhen the handle 8 is operated to release the door.

Having thus fully described my said inventiorn what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with an automobile door having a sliding paneltherein, of a latch at one side of the path of the panel an operatinghandle at the opposite side of? the path said panel. a seems in thelower portion of said door, and a flexible member extending from saidhandle to said pivoted end of the handle 3 I latch and beneath saidsheave for removing the flexible member from the path of the panel.

2. The combination with an automobile door having a sliding paneltherein, of a latch on said door at one side of the path of said panel,a handle positioned at the opposite side of the path of said panel, aflexible n'iember connecting said latch and handle and removed from thepath of the panel, and means for removing slack from saidflexible-member.

3. The combination with an automobile door having a panel verticallyslidable there in, of a latch at one side of the path of the panel andrelatively near the top of the door, an operating handle at the oppositeside of the path of said panel and substantially in a. plane with saidlatch, a sheave in the lower portion ()1 said door and below the path ofsaid panel, and a flexible member attached at one end to said handle andat its opposite end to said latch, said flexible member passing belowsaidsheave for removing: the flexible member from the path of said panelwhen moved into said door.

4. The combination with an automobile door having apanel verticallyslidablc therein, of a latch at one side ot the path of the panel, anoperating handle at the opposite side of the path of said panel, aflexible member having one of its ends con nected with said latch andits opposite end with said handle, a sheave in the lower por tion saiddoor around. which said i assess.

therein, of alatch at one side of the path of the panel, anoperatinghandle at the opposite side of the path of said panel, afiexible member having one of its ends connected with said latch and itsopposite end with said handle, a sheave in the lower portion of saiddoor around which said flex ible member extends for maintaining theflexible member out of the path of said panel, a second sheave near saidlatch over which said flexible member extends, a plate carrying saidsecond sheave, said plate hav ing a circular opening and an elongatedcurved slot: therethrongh, and screws extending through said circularopening and curved slot whereby said plate and second sheave may beadjusted for taking up slack in said flexible member.

In Witness whereof, I hzwe hereunto set my hand and seal at"Indianapolis, Indiana, this 28th day of December, A. D. nineteenhundred and twent -one.

FREDERICK KLEINSMI H. [Ls] Witnesses CAnnY'S. Fern, M. L. SHULER.

